The Case for Christmas Eve

It has been a long standing disagreement in my family whether Christmas gifts should be opened on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. This has given rise to emotions and near contention which are unusual for us. Respecting the fact that there are many reasons for doing things both ways, I will make the case for Christmas Eve then, in all fairness, the case for Christmas morning. After that, you decide.

Note: These have been adjusted to reflect a variety of tastes and beliefs. Not all will apply to all families or individuals.

The Case for Christmas Eve:
1. You don't have to wait any longer.
2. You sleep better not anticipating what may or may not be received for Christmas. If your spouse is really upset, the swelling should go down by Christmas morning.
3. You sleep better as you know whether your gifts have or have not been well received.
4. Christmas present opening will not interfere with church services. If one is a Catholic and opens on Christmas Eve, you should be finished well before midnight mass.
5. You won't have small children bouncing on your tummy at 5 AM Christmas morning asking you to get up to open presents.
6. If you have anything electronic that needs over night charging, it will be ready on Christmas morning.
7. If any one is mad at you over what you gave or didn't give them, they should be calmed down by Christmas morning (see #2).
8. If you are returning a gift, you will have all night and all the next day to plot your strategy and develop excuses.
9. There will be no arguments over whether you open presents or eat breakfast first.
10. You don't have to watch the lousy bowl game they put on on Christmas Eve.
11, You can watch one of the great movies ever made, "A Christmas Story," without interruption all day on Christmas Day.
12. You can listen to Christmas music for one last day in 11 months instead of opening presents.
13. (Male only) You have time to watch all those John Wayne war movies you recorded on Veterans Day.
14. (Redneck only) You can go shooting with the AK-47 your wife gave you.
15. (Male only) You have time to go four wheeling with your new Jeep Rubicon, 4in. lift kit, Warn winch, Mickey Thompson tires, CB Radio, iPod dock, etc.
16. Presents which are unwrapped are much less likely to be taken by burglars who may break in overnight.

The reasons for opening presents on Christmas morning:
1. You've been wimped into submission by the rest of your family who have no respect for logical thinking (see 1-16 above) nor give deference to the elderly.
2. IT DOESN'T MATTER! I just love being with them!!! Merry Christmas to all!

Note: Unlike most posts, this has not been edited by my wife. I think you can figure it out.

Merry Christmas

If we missed you, this is the latest on us and our family:

                                         Merry Christmas

You may have noticed that you may not have received a Christmas letter from us last year. For those who haven’t heard, I will recount our activities of the last year and a half.

For some time, Brenda has suffered from acute, chronic scoliosis. It was bad enough that she lost 3 1/2 inches in height and she was told that her heart and lung function was being compromised. We went to Barrow’s Neurological Center in Phoenix for what was called a complex spinal fusion. Brenda had two surgeries in one week, the second on September, 2, 2010. We were warned about possible complications of the surgery. Brenda had all the complications mentioned except one. She escaped death, just barely. For the three days after the surgery, I thought she was gone. For a week, she was kept alive by 14 I.V. drips. Fifteen months later, the result is that Brenda is in constant pain and has been wheelchair bound with occasional sojourns in a specialized walker. She has moved ahead like a trooper, but, as we have discovered, pain and depression are constant companions.

We still look on the bright side of life (much of the time). We enjoy the small things that we often over looked. I am still trying to get Brenda to slow down. She is not, however, proven by the fact that she fell and broke her hip on October 25th of this year. She was trying a pirouette while reaching into the refrigerator and didn’t finish. It has put a halt to her attempts at ballet. After yet another surgery, she is healing well.

I have honed my homemaking skills, which were sadly lacking. I have learned that laundry piles up, the dishes are never done, they just keep coming back and dust is the protective covering for everything we own. Fortunately, I’ve never minded scrubbing toilets. I have felt my age this year. Helping Brenda has been exhausting at times, but is a joy. If you ever want to grow close as a couple, having one needing extra help will do it. I’ve gone from counseling, to being a Bishop, to being Brenda’s caregiver. Each has been fulfilling in its own way, but I take more joy from helping Brenda than anything else I’ve done. Like I tell her, she’s taken care of the kids and me for many years.

In May, our daughter, Karen, separated from her husband. Karen and her daughter, four year old Grace, have moved in with us. They have been a great blessing to us. One night, we were reading from the “Book of Mormon” (the actual book, not the musical) and Grace said, “I want to read.” She took the book, realized she couldn’t read and then, gazing at the words said, “Moroni went into the desert, they had a fight, then they played baseball.” She is fun.

Jen and Brian are cruising along, literally. The took their family on a trip back East last summer. They had such a good time, they’ll go back this summer and finish up on what they missed.

Rod, Steph and the kids are likewise doing very well. They have moved from Holbrook back to Mesa. It is good to have them close. Steph is working with students in small groups at their kids school and Rod has just accepted a job as a policy advisor for the Arizona State Senate.

In the last year and a half, we have been supported, sustained and inspired by our Heavenly Father. This has come in the form of spiritual comfort and help manifest to a large degree by the assistance of family and friends. Our children and grandchildren have done so much so often that it would be impossible to single out a single event as more significant than another. My sister, Margo, has been an angel with two visits and constant concern. Brenda’s brother, Ken, has made many visits and elicited much sympathy on our behalf.  The recent visit by Brenda’s sister, Jan, gave us both a lift. Hearing Jan read to Brenda while Brenda was in pain put a tear in my eye. In November, I was able to visit Margo and while in California saw Wayne and Dennis Johnson, Jim and Bea Alexander and Randy and Susan Steele. The visit  a few days later of my high school friend, Evonne Bridenstine Bolton, and her Arizona family, was warm and wonderful. 

Traditionally, in our minds, we have a picture of winged angels coming from heaven to minister to us. In reality, the angels God sends are our children, grandchildren, sisters, brother and friends. Thanks to all and even to those who have just prayed or sent good thoughts in our direction.

May you find joy in your lives, hopefully not by breaking hips or anything else, and have a great 2012.

Rocky & Brenda